Star Wars Adventures, Vol. 8: Defend the Republic!

This trio of stories are set during the Clone Wars.

Yoda and Anakin Skywalker defend a group of refugees from Separatist droids on mission from Count Dooku. Queen Amadala is tasked to repay Gungan leader Boss Nass for his role in the siege of Naboo to assist Jar Jar Binks in a treasure hunt. Finally, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Clone trooper, Captain Rex are woefully outnumbered by droids. The odds do not look in their favor. But their luck changes when a malfunctioning clanker swears allegiance to the Republic and starts blasting away its fellow droids!

All three stories were very, very good. I thought the artwork of the Amadala and Jar Jar story was the best. It reminded me of those gags drawn by Sergio Aragones when you see an archaeologist digging through the ground and you see all these treasures that he's just missing out on. Some panels were like that in this story and I thought it was great.

The best written story was the Obi-Wan story about the droid that switched sides. I'd really like to read more stories about that character and I kinda hope he survived the Clone Wars and onslaught of the Emperor as the Sith lord attempted to purge any and all remnants of the Republic.

Despite 3 main stories, this volume only carries 2 Wild Space back-up stories. One tale is about another clanker that had quite a run of bad luck. The other story is about the apprentice of Jedi master Luminara Unduli, sent on the quest of finding an ancient Jedi text. Both were good reads but just not that memorable.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

Star Wars: Jedi Academy, Book 4: A New Class (Family Comic Friday)

  Victor Starspeeder is a Padawan with tremendous potential. He's got the makings of such a powerful Jedi that the teachers at the Jedi Academy on Obroa-Skai cannot properly train him. So Victor is transferred to the Academy on Coruscant where Master Yoda sees get potential for the young lad. 
     New to the Jedi Academy, Victor will struggle to fit in. His older sister, a star student in her own right, is mortified to have her baby brother at her school. His roommate Artemis wheezes and wears dark robes. Is he a Sith? Then there's the older Padawan whose taken Victor under his wing. He seems nice, yet also seems to get the new student into lots of trouble with the instructors. What's his deal?
     A New Class is just that: new students, new instructors, even a new author/ illustrator. After 3 Jedi Academy Books, Jeffrey Brown stepped down for other projects I guess. His successor Jarrett J. Krosoczka (Lunch Lady) did a very good job. His entry in the Jedi Academy series was similar but different. But that wasn't a bad thing. 
      I really enjoyed this read but I have my questions. For one, does this volume take place before or after the events of the Jeffrey Brown Trilogy? Just because this is volume 4, that doesn't mean that this isn't a prequel. With only Master Yoda and the Wookiee P.E. teacher Kitmum as the only characters that return in this book, am I to believe that a bunch of teachers up and quit all of a sudden?
      My other issue is one that I had with the Jeffrey Brown books: romance. All through the Star Wars prequels, Jedi not getting into romantic entanglements and marriage is a big deal and a major plot point. Yet, Victor's father is a Jedi and married (with children!) and the Padawans in these books always seem to date each other without objection from Yoda. So what's up with that?
      Yes, a lot of great characters from the first three books are gone. But I really liked some of these new ones, especially Artemis. But the annoying Gungan guidance counselor, meesa could do without. 
      A fun read that will appeal to young Star Wars fans. Not too silly and not too predictable. Being half comic book/ half easy reader, this book should be a favorite of both kids and parents/ guardians!

     Worth Consuming

     Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Jedi Academy: The Phantom Bully (Jedi Academy #3) (Family Comic Friday)

  Padawan Roan Sanchez is about to begin his final year of schooling at the Jedi Academy Middle School. Before the year is out, he will have to complete the obstacle course, labyrinth, and one-on-one training with everybody's favorite Jedi Master, Mr. Garfield- OR he'll have to repeat the entire grade over! It's going to be hard with Roan being targeted by a mysterious foe who's sabotaging him at every turn.

   The Phantom Bully marks the conclusion to the Sanchez Trilogy but not the end to the Jedi Academy series. A new class, along with a new writer, is set to hit bookshelves in July. I'm looking forward to it but I really don't want Roan's story to end. Maybe the Jedi-in-training will return to encourage the new students of Jedi Academy. 

   But, one thing strikes me a little eerie about this series- does it bother any of you that most of the students attending Jedi Academy will either die at the hands of the clone troopers, following the Emperor's command of Order 66, or be betrayed by Anakin Skywalker, when he becomes Darth Vader? So maybe it is a good thing Roan and friends have moved on...

    Jeffrey Brown is such a talent in the Star Wars universe. His Darth Vader and Friends books are hysterical and he does a great job in making Jedi Academy both fanciful and relatable for kids. No matter what happens to the characters of the Jedi Academy series, I hope this volume isn't the end of Brown's time in a galaxy far, far away...

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

   

    

The 18 Days of a Star Wars Christmas Miracle +7: Day 4

 Santa Yoda is perhaps the most iconic Star Wars Christmas image. It was painted by Ralph McQuarrie, who was the concept artist on the original trilogy. Santa Yoda was used as the 1981 edition of Christmas card issued by Lucasfilm. If you were a member of the cast or crew of Empire Strikes Back, then you got this in the mail as a holiday greeting from George Lucas.

   Since 1977, Lucasfilm has issued a Star Wars themed Christmas card that it would give to actors, artists, craftsmen, and more as a thank you for all their hard work during the previous year. The cards aren't that rare, nor are some of the images used as many of them have been recycled in Star Wars trading card sets in the 90s. But since they have something to do with Star Wars, the Lucasfilm Christmas card of any of the past 37 editions are a highly sought after piece of memorabilia.

   For my Advent present today here is a look at some of the past cards issued by George Lucas. If you haven't been able to make Star Wars creator's Christmas card list, this may very well be the next best thing...

   Enjoy...

Star Wars Academy: Return of the Padawan (Book II) (Family Comic Friday)

Roan, the football faced padawan from Tatooine returns for his second year at the Jedi Academy. It’s his chance to finally fly the Jedi star fighters and coming from a family of pilots, Roan assumes the class will be a breeze. As the youngling goes through another year at the Academy, Roan faces a slew of problems- peer pressure from the Dark Side, teen angst, puppy love, and the worst of all Gamorrean cuisine!

When I finished book I, I was a little sad thinking all of these characters are going to be killed eventually by Darth Vader. However, it is established in this book that these events take place well before that happens. That made for a much happier read.

Jeffery Brown does a fantastic job capturing the magic of the Star Wars universe while placing it in scenarios that any elementary or middle school child would understand. Plus, it’s Star Wars!!! With Episode VII coming out next year, a slew of Star Wars products are going to explode on the market. I think it’s safe to say that a third book in this series will be forthcoming. With nothing for parents to object to in this series, this is an excellent book for newcomers and established fans of the Star Wars films. Plus there are plenty of cool references to both the original and new trilogies for everyone to enjoy. I just wish that the book didn’t end as suddenly as it did. It didn’t allow for very much character growth except to wrap everything up nice and neatly like a sitcom would. Still, it was enjoyable read primarily for those in grades 2-6 but will delight Jedi of all ages.

Worth Consuming

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.